Flyers rally past Redcoats
Tayah Vahrmeyer wasn’t going to let a bad back get in the way of participating in what could have been her final game of high school volleyball.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student injured her back Tuesday morning in a fall at home, but managed to put aside the pain and suit up for the Eden Flyers.
Vahrmeyer was a key cog for the Flyers who rallied to defeat the Governor Simcoe Redcoats 25-19, 19-25, 15-25, 25-16, 16-14 to capture the Niagara Regional High School Athletic Association senior girls AA volleyball championship on their home court.
“We have wooden stairs. That (I wouldn’t be able to play) was the first thing I said when I fell,” Vahrmeyer said. “I put some cream on it and I was here to play.”
Eden coach Bill Markham marvelled Vahrmeyer was able to not only suit up, but also contribute.
“She gutted in out. She’s like a superstar,” he smiled.
It was an epic match that took mlre than two hours and at times looked as though the Redcoats were primed for the upset.
“I loved playing in that, with that level of intensity,” Vahrmeyer said. “We’ve been there so many times — I played on the senior team when I was in Grade 9 with my sister — and we’ve been there so many times we all knew how to get it done.”
The Redcoats won two straight sets after losing the opening set and had the Flyers on their heals.
“I was definitely thinking this might be my last game of senior volleyball for the school but I knew my team. I knew they were going to do a great job,” Vahrmeyer said. “It was the team aspect. Everyone knew to come together and everyone knew it was a game of energy.”
Markham tipped his cap to the Redcoats.
“They played fantastic,” he said. “They’re well coached and they executed their game plan really well.
“We had to make some major adjustments to get back in it. When we were down 2-1 and had to win the next two, my girls showed up. I’m so proud of them.”
The Flyers feature a young squad with only two seniors.
“We knew they (Simcoe) would be our toughest competition. They have some amazing players. We had to chip away and I had to remind our girls just to keep playing.”
The Flyers now advance to the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association playoffs Thursday in Hamilton.
“I’m so excited for SOSSA,” Vahrmeyer said. “Last year we lost to E.L. Crossley and they went on to win OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) so I have really good hopes for this year. I think we’ll come back and fight hard.”
Other members of the Flyers are: Therese Ristow, Brynn Esau, Lauren Alguire, Allyson Heida, Lucy Sawatsky, Alexandria Schellenberg, Kylie Doyle, Ava Wilms, Nicole Wilms, Brianna Brusutti, Katie Thompson and Madalyn Weinert.
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